New Jersey Devils Making '08-'09 Memorable
Brodeur and Elias's Records Set the Stage For Magical Season
For the New Jersey Devils, this has been one of the most emotional seasons in recent history, and it will be remembered for the records broken and persistent determination displayed when the game’s best goaltender went down. What began with the usual expectations of a healthy playoff run quickly turned to fear as the most consistent goaltender of all-time was diagnosed with an elbow injury that would sideline him for up to four months. The injury was a tear to the distal biceps tendon, and officially left Brodeur from November 1, 2008 until February 26, 2009.
Brodeur Poised to Set New Records
Brodeur entered the ’08-’09 season with 538 career wins, 13 shy of tying Patrick Roy’s record for most wins by a goaltender in a career. Since his first full season, Brodeur has never won less than 19 games and since that time has never failed to reach 30 wins. It was a foregone conclusion that this was the season in which Brodeur would break Roy’s record. It was even conceivable that Brodeur would pass Terry Sawchuck for most shutouts in a career since he entered the season with 96 career shutouts and was just seven shy of Sawchuck’s 103.
Brodeur's Injury Opened New Doors
After it was announced that Brodeur’s injury was indeed serious and would require surgery, the entire season looked poised to take a nosedive. It quickly became clear that backup goaltender Kevin Weekes would not be the best replacement for Brodeur, so they called upon minor leaguer Scott Clemmensen to shoulder the load. Amazingly, Clemmensen did more than just hold down the job until Brodeur came back; he excelled. Behind Clemmensen’s 2.39 Goals Against Average, the Devils won 25 games, and more importantly, put themselves in prime position to aim for a top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. What seemed like a certain drop-off in production amazingly turned into Clemmensen emerging as this season’s hero and the team’s Most Valuable Player.
During Brodeur’s absence, it was never clearer that the key to success in hockey is teamwork and continuity. For the 40 games Clemmensen started, the “A” Line of Zach Parise, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Travis Zajac developed into one of the best in the league, and Parise having the second most goals scored in the NHL behind Alexander Ovechkin.
The Legend Returns
Upon Brodeur’s return to the ice in late February, the Devils had exceeded all expectations of what could be done in his absence. The team then set their sights on the future of broken records and hopefully a deep playoff run. Brodeur immediately set aside any concerns of lingering effects from his elbow injury by recording a shutout against the Colorado Avalanche in his first game back. Immediately the focus shifted on one number: 551.
A Season of Milestones
After Brodeur’s return, the Devils would win 7 out of their first 8 games and enter the Prudential Center on St. Patrick’s Day looking to break two records in one night. Brodeur was chasing Roy’s wins record and Patrik Elias entered play already tied with John MacLean’s record for most points in franchise history. One game after Brian Rolston (originally drafted by the Devils) recorded his milestone 300th goal, the two longest tenured Devils (Brodeur – 16 seasons and Elias – 13 seasons) were ready to make history of their own.
Brodeur and Elias: Faces of a Franchise
For any Devils fan, Martin Brodeur and Patrik Elias are the epitome of this New Jersey franchise. In a time in sports where it is seemingly impossible to have one player spend his entire career with one team, the two staples of this organization have remained loyal and committed to the Devils. On a night where Devils fans packed the Prudential Center for a franchise record tenth consecutive home win, Brodeur and Elias achieved their records together and humbly shared the moment. Brodeur made it a point in his postgame speech to recognize the outstanding accomplishment of his longtime forward, and when Brodeur and Elias were appropriately named the first and second star, respectively, the arena erupted and the organization, fans, and players celebrated two great men at one time.
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